The eventual boys basketball champion of the West Bay Athletic League is likely to have to dig deep to earn frenetic victories. Sacred Heart Prep-Atherton did just that Friday night, rallying for a 56-52 overtime win over host Pinewood-Los Altos Hills in front of a packed house.

The Gators’ James McLean hit a follow shot with 11.5 seconds left in regulation, sending the game into overtime tied 47-47. Pinewood’s Ryan Brice missed a 12-foot baseline jumper with 3 seconds to go that would have won the game.

SHP (8-4, 4-0 WBAL) rests in first place, along with Menlo School-Atherton, pending the Knights’ result Friday with Woodside Priory-Portola Valley. Pinewood (11-3, 3-1 WBAL) dropped a game back in the race.

“We had too many breakdowns, offensively and defensively,” Messy said. “We take pride in keeping mental focus. We let the mental aspect of the game fall apart and Sacred Heart Prep took advantage. We’ll find a way to grow from it.”

“Pinewood did a great job in their zone and we didn’t hit shots early,” SHP coach Tony Martinelli said. “Once we started taking it to the basket, it opened up the perimeter more for us.”

The Panthers came out smoking from beyond the arc in the first period. Guard Greg Naumann hit three 3-pointers, while Jordan Riches hit a pair of treys for an 18-6 first-quarter lead. Naumann, though, picked up two quick fouls, sitting out the second quarter, the two teams even in the period at 13 points apiece.

The game got bizarre in the third period when Andrew Daschbach grabbed a defensive board for the Gators. Daschbach tried to clear some space and a Pinewood player took exception, getting a technical for taunting with 6:10 left in the period. McLean missed the front end, but made the second, the Gators down 11 points.

Naumann was fouled on a 3-point try, then made two of three free throws, his final points of the night, ending with 11.

The Gators started to chip away, getting within 39-31 on a layin by McLean, who had 10 points. Connor Moses inbounded the ball to Corbin Koch for a layin and SHP trailed 39-33.

Sophomore Mason Randall drilled a 3-pointer to start the fourth period and Pinewood’s lead was 40-36. A 3-pointer by Moses, another sophomore playing pressure minutes, and the Panthers’ lead was one. And when Koch scored on a putback, the game was knotted 41-41. Koch had a game-high 17 points.

Pinewood’s Nathan Beak hit a pair of free throws with 2:01 to play, giving the Panthers a 47-44 lead. It looked real good for the Panthers when David Bodine drew a charging call on Koch with 37 seconds to play in regulation, much to the dismay of Gators fans.

Sacred Heart Prep started the four-minute overtime period with a nice pass from Daschbach to Koch underneath for a deuce and a two-point lead. Daschbach scored inside while being fouled, then made the free throw and the Gators led 52-47 with 2:28 remaining in overtime.

Brice, who had 15 points, got a runner to go down to get the Panthers within three points. And when Koch fouled out with 1:47 left in OT, the Panthers appeared to have new life.

With SHP fans chanting “We got Moses!”, Moses drained two free throws with 39 seconds left. Riches then hit two free throws for Pinewood’s final points of the evening.

It was a physical game with Ryan Galvin fouling out for the Gators, joining Koch on the bench. Naumann fouled out for the Panthers with 4:11 to play in regulation.

“With Naumann fouling out early, it made it tough on Pinewood to bring the ball up against our press,” Martinelli said. “Our press started working better with him out and that changed the game.”

Daschbach had just six points, but owned the boards with 11 rebounds, a key factor.

“Daschbach is a winner,” Martinelli said. “He does everything the right way, gives you everything he has and he never asks questions. You tell him what to do and he does it. Him on the back end makes everything better. He can guard anyone.”

The teams combined to shoot 55 free-throw attempts, making 33. Pinewood was just 13-of-24 from the line on its home floor.

Martinelli was happy to escape with the win in a pressure-packed environment.

“Playing here is always tough,” Martinelli said. “If you pull it out, you move on to the next one, even if it’s ugly. We’re moving in the right direction.”

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